Inventors Unite at FJHS

The Fulton Community School’s Extended Day Program at the Fulton Junior High School has given seventh-graders and eighth-graders more than just fun after-school activities.
It has also afforded students with an opportunity to learn more about themselves, as they worked through several hands-on tasks. During the program’s recent “Inventors Unite” session, students created either an art piece or an invention using at least one rubber band. A total of 16 students participated in the five-week session, where many of them took a personal problem or issue and turned into something positive and beautiful.
Seventh-grader Kaitlyn Cayer created a handcrafted broken heart, half of which was painted blue to represent sadness and the other half was shiny red, showing love and the fullness of life. Classmate Curtis Taylor, made a generator out of a compact disc, magnets, wire, rubber tubing, a light bulb, duct tape, a mini motor, a switch, wood, a rubber band and glue.
Many students also submitted their work into the National Rubber Band Contest, which required an essay component. If their work is selected, they could win a cash prize.
Teacher Brad DePoint said there was much trial and error with projects, but students showed perseverance and commitment up to project completion.
“It’s really about problem-solving and being okay with having to go back to the drawing board and realizing it’s not a big deal; you can come back and fix things,” he said.
Fellow teacher Lynnette DePoint said the session was made possible with wood, nail and screw donations from Burke’s Home Center in Fulton. She also thanked employees at Universal Metal Works in Fulton for allowing the students to tour the facility and speak with engineers on what it’s like working with metal, customer needs and creating products customers want.
The session concluded Dec. 22 with a parent showcase.

FJHS seventh-grader Curtis Taylor attempts to get a light bulb to
come on by use of his homemade generator during a recent Fulton
Community School’s Extended Day Program session.